A tunable laser absorption spectrometer (TLAS) was developed for the simultaneous measurement of δ13C and δD values of methane (CH₄). A mid-infrared interband cascade laser (ICL) emitting around 3.27 µm was used to measure the absorption of the three most abundant isotopologues in CH₄ with a single, mode-hop free current sweep. The instrument was validated against methane samples of fossil and ...

Vertical gradients of mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds have been measured in a Ponderosa pine forest in Central California (38.90 N, 120.63 W, 1315 m). These measurements reveal large quantities of previously unreported oxidation products of short lived biogenic precursors. The emission of biogenic precursors must be in the range of 13–66μmol m−2 h−1 to produce the observed oxidation...

Motile animals actively seek out and gather resources they find rewarding, and this is an extremely powerful organizer and motivator of animal behavior. Mammalian studies have revealed interconnected neurobiological systems for reward learning, reward assessment, reinforcement and reward-seeking; all involving the biogenic amine dopamine. The neurobiology of reward-seeking behavioral systems is...

Present work focuses on the synthesis strategies for different CuO nanostructures along with associated formation mechanisms and their interesting fundamental properties, and promising applications in biological and environmental remediation. We present a variety of synthesis techniques for producing diverse types of CuO nanostructures with various morphologies such as nanoparticles, nanoleaves...

Background, aim, and scope Changes in bioavailability of phosphorus (P) during pedogenesis and ecosystem development have been shown for geogenic calcium phosphate (Ca-P). However, very little is known about long-term changes of biogenic Ca-P in soil. Materials and methods Long-term transformation characteristics of biogenic Ca-P were examined using anthropogenic soils along a chronosequence fr...

The concentration of biogenic amines and free amino acids was studied in 102 Portuguese wines and 18 musts from Alentejo demarcated (D.O.C.) regions. Most wines were commercial, except for 38 monovarietals obtained by micro vinification. Musts from the varieties used to produce the latter wines were also studied. Both biogenic amines and free amino acids were analyzed by HPLC using fluorescence...

In the central nervous system (CNS) of both vertebrates and invertebrates, biogenic amines are important neuroactive molecules. Physiologically, they can act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or neurohormones. Biogenic amines control and regulate various vital functions including circadian rhythms, endocrine secretion, cardiovascular control, emotions, as well as learning and memory. In in...

We investigated the effect of injections of four biogenic amines (serotonin, dopamine, octopamine and tyramine) on behavior patterns displayed by workers of the red wood ant Formica polyctena during dyadic confrontations with four types of opponents: a nestmate, an alien conspecific, an allospecific ant (Formica fusca), and a potential prey, a nymph of the house cricket (Acheta domesticus). Sig...

Amperometric biosensors for the measurement of biogenic amines in fish and fruit samples, of lactulose in milk and of glycerol in wine have been developed. The covalent immobilization of enzymes as diamine oxidase (amines), ? galactosidase + fructose dehydrogenase (lactulose) and glycerokinase + glycerol-3P oxidase (glycerol) has been carried out onto polymeric supports for the realization of e...

Analyses both support and are in opposition to the hypothesis that the Martian meteorite ALH84001 contains evidence for possible biogenic activity on Mars. New observations in two additional Martian meteorites, Nakhla (1.3 Ga old) and Shergotty (300–165 Ma old) indicate possible biogenic features. Features in the three Martian meteorites compare favorably with the accepted criteria for terrestr...